US threatens more sanctions over Iran nuclear drive

Iran must respond to international concerns about its suspect nuclear programme, or face additional punitive sanctions, United States (US) Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Saturday. -- PHOTO: AFP

LIMA (AFP) - Iran must respond to international concerns about its suspect nuclear programme, or face additional punitive sanctions, United States (US) Defense Secretary Leon Panetta warned on Saturday.

The West worries Iran is trying to develop an atomic bomb under cover of a civilian nuclear energy programme but Teheran insists its intentions are purely peaceful.

"Our hope would be that the most important thing that they could do at this point is to engage seriously with the international community to try to resolve this issue," Mr Panetta said during a visit to Peru.

"Hopefully they will do that, but if they don't, make no mistake, the international community will continue to impose additional sanctions," he added, stressing that the United States and its allies are unified in their effort to stop Teheran's uranium enrichment activities.